Awe Effect Mental Health Benefits

When was the last time you watched a sunrise or sunset?

Turns out you just might want to watch the sun come up or go down more often. Research has shown there are awe effect mental health benefits from seeing the sun rise or set.

I took my coffee cup and went for a sunrise stroll this morning, for the first time in a while. It’s done my heart some definite good. I witnessed the beauty the pictures in this post reflect.

The awe effect of it

Think back on a time you saw a beautiful sunset or sunrise. Remember how you felt?
Likely you experienced a sense of awe inspired by the view you took in.

I remember driving home this winter and the sun was setting off in the distance. The sky was enormous and filled with beautiful shades of orange from the sun, blue from the sky and gray from a few clouds. I can still see the scene in my minds eye. It was stunning. I gasped and uttered a big ‘wow’. And smiled all the way home.

The awe effect of that great huge sun rising or setting inspires us and that is what has a positive impact on our mental health.

An awe effect occurs when we experience something so immense and so profound that we can’t quite comprehend it. The experience itself changes our perception, and even brings on physical responses like tears or chills.

Inward vs outward focus

We tend to over think when we are too inwardly focused. This creates or adds to our anxiety. In addition, we can get stuck in those negative loops of thought, too.

But when we experience something we feel awed by; the awe effect interrupts that loop of negative thoughts. We are more present and focus outward. As a result, we’re not stuck up in our heads thinking and thinking and thinking. And stuck in those negative thought loops.

Other mental health benefits from experiencing an awe effect

Importantly, people who experience awe or joy often have lower levels of cytokines. Cytokines are a marker of inflammation in our body. Higher levels of cytokines in our body make us at higher risk for depression and also diabetes and cardiovascular diseases too.

In addition, experiencing an awe effect can help us be a kinder person. Feeling small while experiencing something stunningly magnificent inspires us to be more altruistic according to research. If you are awe-struck watching the beauty of a sunset or sunrise you just may find yourself having more compassion and be helpful to those around you.

It’s hard not to experience an awe effect when watching that great huge orange ball in the sky coming up or going down!

Sunrise sunset mental health benefits are all free for the taking

So, do you wanna feel better emotionally? Get out to see the sun set or rise! Experience the awe effect. It can’t hurt. And, it sure does look like it will definitely help! Trust me today I feel it too!

Remember: Anxiety Therapy and Depression Therapy will help you add more skills to your life coping tools box! Contact Me to get started!

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Sunrise and the birds video